Sunday, April 14, 2013

Trevino Trial to Start Monday in Zetas Racehorse Case

One of Mexico's most powerful and violent drug cartels
intended a racehorse-buying operation to be a clandestine means of laundering
its illegal proceeds in the United States, prosecutors say.

But with the millions of dollars spent — sometimes in the
form of duffel bags stuffed with cash — on horses named with names such as
Number One Cartel and Mr. Ease Cartel, it wasn't long before authorities
learned of the alleged scheme and reined it in.

The federal investigation resulted in indictments last year
against 18 individuals. Now, at least four of the accused in the money
laundering scheme, including the brother of two of the top leaders of the Zetas
drug cartel, are set to go on trial Monday in an Austin federal courtroom.

The trial, which could last up to six weeks, is expected to
offer insight into the internal workings of the Zetas, as well as highlight
what some cartel experts say was a rookie mistake by an organized crime outfit:
drawing attention to yourself.

"It's just sort of flashy, ostentatious behavior that
is not smart if you are involved in organized crime," Howard Campbell, a
professor of anthropology at the University of Texas at El Paso who has studied
drug cartels, said of the racehorse-buying operation's high profile.

Federal authorities have accused Miguel Angel Trevino
Morales, believed to now be the leader of the Zetas drug operation, of setting
up the horse operation that his younger brother, Jose Trevino Morales, ran from
a sprawling ranch near Lexington, Okla. The operation spent millions of dollars
buying horses in California, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas, prosecutors said.

Authorities allege Jose Trevino Morales and his wife, who
had lived in North Texas before moving to Oklahoma, did not have the means to
support the ranch operation, which bought, trained, bred and raced quarter
horses throughout the Southwest, and that drug money paid for everything.

Neighbors said those who worked with the ranch spent lots of
cash, bought land and made improvements at a time when others in the industry
were struggling financially.

Workers at the Ruidoso Downs Race Track and Casino in New
Mexico said Jose Trevino Morales' stables were known as the "Zetas'
stables."

The U.S. Attorney's Office in San Antonio, which is handling
the case, declined to comment on Friday about the trial.

Jose Trevino Morales' attorney, David Finn, said his client
is not guilty of money laundering, describing him as a hard-working person who
learned to raise horses while growing up on a ranch in Mexico.

"This is not about Jose Trevino Morales and his family.
This is about his brothers and their alleged criminal activity in Mexico,"
Finn said. "He is not involved in any Zeta activity ... They couldn't get
the brothers so they are focusing on my client."

Miguel Angel Trevino Morales and another brother alleged to
be a top Zetas leader, Oscar Omar Trevino Morales, were also indicted. But they
— along with five others also charged — remain at large. Three others indicted
have pleaded guilty, including Jose Trevino Morales' wife and daughter.

Campbell said while the racehorse-buying operation might
have been a creative way to launder money, it was also "really stupid
because it was so public."

"The smarter people launder money more
discreetly," he said.

Campbell attributed the mistake to the Zetas' relative
inexperience as an independent drug trafficking group. Originally a band of
assassins made up of ex-special forces soldiers from the Mexican Army, the
Zetas worked for the Gulf Cartel before splitting off in 2010.

The Zetas, known for beheading rivals, have been blamed for
some of Mexico's most shocking atrocities and mass killings.

"The Zetas seem to be a little more out of control and
not as sort of hip to how they should operate in order to avoid getting
caught," Campbell said. "They've learned their lesson in this
case."

George W. Grayson, an expert on Mexican politics and drug
cartels at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Va., said the Zetas
might have been drawn to the idea of using a horse-buying operation because of
their love of such animals, especially thoroughbreds.

"With horses and laundering money, you have a daily
double on which they thought they couldn't lose," said Grayson, who
co-authored "The Executioner's Men: Los Zetas, Rogue Soldiers, Criminal
Entrepreneurs and the Shadow State They Created."

Campbell called the upcoming trial a "slam dunk"
for prosecutors, citing the extensive evidence.

Grayson said he doesn't think the shutting down of the
horse-buying operation was a major blow to the Zetas' operations.

"It's a thorn in their side but not a dagger in their
heart," Grayson said.

Chivis: The video depicts the ownership change. the Original owner of Tempting Dash Jose Villareal was murdered in Mexico directly before ownership change to Trevino. The jockey and trainer also went with Trevino. In the video at around 1:55 there is a brief interview with Jose Trevino.

Many trials are now streamed live. If any readers discovers a website, usually state or region, that is streaming the trial please let us all know and give us a link.

Hopefully the trial will not have another postponement, if they do that is a good indicator a deal is being made and near. If it commences tomorrow, I will attempt to access updates.

I read the US something (whatever it is who seized the property) are now in business with the horses, sold a bunch of them and selling sperm from one, isn't it odd though that this is done before the trial? I have no problem whatsoever with the zetas' horses being seized and sold, I just thought it couldn't be done til the trial was over, I know I'm missing something, does anyone know?

That would have been incredible if one of these zeta horses had won the triple crown by winning horse racing most prestigious races: Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont Stakes. They'll probably end up in some dogs' bowls now instead. Just joking you animal rights activist! Mr. José Treviño is going to bite the bullet on this one. I doubt he'll accept a plea bargain and turn on his brothers by snitching on them. So unless his lawyer pulls a rabbit out of his hat, he will get the book thrown at him.

How about the rest of the Zetas in the video of the horse races? How many of those are still funding their campaign of death from the U.S.? Their photos need to be published so they can also be reported and do time for their crimes.

I'm going to go out on a limb here and expect that he will not be punished according to the murderous crimes he is responsible for. I suspect either money (paying off greedy texas lawyers) or fear (threatening officials like they do in MX) will see this filthy scumbag out well before his time.